Looking to purchase a new vehicle (requirements: 30 cubic feet cargo, 30 mpg minimum) - Page 4 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Daox · 08-04-2012, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPGranger

My biggest problem is that my wife LOVES the remote start and using the car to hands free phone calls and chat away while parked and idling. And the thing has a push button start with no accessory position, so either the car is on or the car is off. She is not even meeting the EPA city so far. Maybe it's her lead foot as well...

Any tips for CVT hypermiling??

If its like my Prius' push button start you should be able to get accessory mode by just pressing the start button, but not pushing the brake down and pushing the start button (which is required to actually start the car). I'd be completely shocked if the car had absolutely no accessory mode.

For accelerating with a CVT stick it at an efficient rpm and keep it there. That means generally around 1500 - 2500 rpm. Coast when possible, avoid brake use, the norm really except for accelerating.

MPGranger · 08-05-2012, 08:10 AM

Thanks, I actually got some drive time with the damn thing and figured that one out last night after I posted. Next step is to figure out how to keep it in accessory mode and turn the ICE off, so my wife can continue her conversation.

So DWL still isn't better than P&G with a CVT?

My CVT doesn't have the act like a normal transmission mode to force early upshifts, either.

Daox · 08-05-2012, 09:17 AM

I'm not 100% sure how the Nissan CVT works (I have driven in a newer Sentra with one), but it wouldn't make sense IMO to work any other way. The Prius works by first opening the throttle to maximize the load on the engine. If the vehicle still requires more power, it starts increasing rpm at that point. So, if you are noticing your rpms increasing you're already at an optimal engine load (you might be able to verify this with a scangauge), now you just control the RPMs for how much power output you want. This is pretty much what P&G does.

taco · 08-05-2012, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPGranger

Thanks, I actually got some drive time with the damn thing and figured that one out last night after I posted. Next step is to figure out how to keep it in accessory mode and turn the ICE off, so my wife can continue her conversation.

So DWL still isn't better than P&G with a CVT?

My CVT doesn't have the act like a normal transmission mode to force early upshifts, either.

With motor on. Double tap start button quick.
With foot off of brake. It cycles off then acc then on. Foot on brake off to start.

MPGranger · 08-05-2012, 09:23 PM

So I've noticed on my few drives with the Altima (expect wife's to be replaced by Hershey) that the transmission shifts to N from D without squeezing the trigger on the shifter. Does this mean that the engineers are giving us a wink to P&G? Also I've been using the overdrive button to DFCO and save the brakes a little. My wife thinks I am being too hard on the tranny, but it is a logic thing for the tranny. Any thoughts?

Saskwatchian · 08-05-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MPGranger

...the transmission shifts to N from D without squeezing the trigger on the shifter. Does this mean that the engineers are giving us a wink to P&G?

All vehicles with auto trannys do that (to the best of my knowledge).

It is a safety feature which allows you to quickly cut all power to the wheels. Very handy when you loose traction on icy roads.

Daox · 08-06-2012, 12:18 PM

IMO the overdrive button should be on all the time, are you saying you turn it on and off?

MPGranger · 08-06-2012, 03:00 PM

Yes, the altima turns on with OD on and there is a side button on the shifter to turn it off. This thing has a lower rolling resistance than my MINI did, and much more than my Ranger does. So some of this turning the OD off to DFCO is because I haven't gotten used to my new car and misjudged some glides. And as I stated earlier this CVT also has some very long legs, I think the tallest gearing allows cruising at 80mph @ 2K RPM.

I have an 1600 mile round trip weekend coming up this month. I'm going to try to compromise with the wife and get her to accelerate at max of 2k rpm and cruise at +5mph over the speed limit, if I do +5 as well. On wife's fuel log the 45mpg tanks are me doing this trip cruising at the speed limit, which totally pissed her off. But then she gets 29mpg tanks going to work which is about 50/50 highway to city??

MetroMPG · 08-06-2012, 09:20 PM

Does the car have paddle "shifters" or a +/- gate on the shift lever? Reason I ask: I was surprised to learn that I could coax a CVT in a Jeep Patriot to give me higher gearing for a given road speed than the default programming would otherwise have offered. See: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...rly-21149.html

MPGranger · 08-07-2012, 08:59 PM

No it doesn't. Only the V6 Altimas have the paddle shifters. I thought maybe the Ds spot on the tranny was that feature. But that just made for a sportier fuel map. Add in the OD off feature and you could seriously burn through some dinojuice.

I would just like to brag that the Malibu Eco (hybrid) doesn't get as good FE as my altima.